RU2741299C1 - Plasticizing composition containing polymer esters of dicarboxylic acids and esters of 1,2-cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: chemistry.

SUBSTANCE: group of inventions relates to a plasticising composition. Described is a plasticizing composition for a thermoplastic polymer selected from polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyvinyl butyral (PVB), homopolymers and copolymers of vinyl acetate, homopolymers and copolymers of styrene, polyacrylates, thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU) and polysulphides, containing: a) one or more compounds of general formula (I):

in which X in each case denotes a straight alkylene group with 2–5 carbon atoms, Y in each case denotes a straight or branched alkylene group with 2–5, and is integer from 5 to 40, and R¹ denotes methyl, both denote ethyl, both denote n-propyl, both denote isopropyl, both denote n-butyl , both denote isobutyl or both denote n-pentyl, where the Y groups found in the compounds (I) can be identical or can differ from each other, and wherein if the compounds (I) contain more than one X group, the latter can be identical or can differ from each other, and b) one or more compounds of general formula (II):

in which R² and R³ are independently selected from branched and unbranched alkyl radicals with 8–11 carbon atoms, wherein content of the compound of general formula (I) in the plasticising composition is from 50 to 90 wt % and the content of the compound of general formula (II) in the plasticizing composition is from 10 to 50 wt %, in terms of total amount of compounds (I) and (II) in plasticising composition. Also disclosed are molding compound, use of plasticising composition, use of molding compound.

EFFECT: high resistance of plasticisers to extraction, primarily extraction with petrol, oils and fats, as well as resistance to ultraviolet and volatility.

13 cl, 3 tbl, 5 ex, 1 dwg

Description

The invention relates to a plasticizing composition containing at least one polymeric ester of a dicarboxylic acid and at least one ester of 1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid, to molding compositions containing a thermoplastic polymer or elastomer and said plasticizing composition, as well as to the use of said plasticizing compositions and molding materials.

To ensure the necessary technological, respectively operational properties, so-called plasticizers are added to many polymers, which impart softness, flexibility and / or elasticity to the polymers. The purpose of plasticizers in the general case is to shift the region of thermoplasticity of polymers to lower temperatures, due to which the polymers have the necessary elastic properties in the region of low technological and operating temperatures.

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is an extremely high volume polymer. Due to its versatile applicability, polyvinyl chloride is currently present in many products of everyday life. Thus, very great economic importance is attached to polyvinyl chloride. Initially, polyvinyl chloride is a tough and brittle polymer up to 80 ° C, which, after adding heat stabilizers and other additives, is used as a rigid (unplasticized) PVC. Only after adding suitable plasticizers does it become soft (plasticized) polyvinyl chloride, which can be used for many purposes for which rigid PVC is unsuitable.

Other important thermoplastic polymers in which plasticizers are commonly used are, for example, polyvinyl butyral, styrene homopolymers and copolymers, polyacrylates, polysulfides or thermoplastic polyurethanes.

The possibility of using one or another substance as a plasticizer for a particular polymer largely depends on the properties of the polymer to be plasticized. Typically desirable are plasticizers that have a high compatibility with the polymer to be plasticized, give it optimal thermoplastic properties, and have a low tendency to evaporate and / or sweat (high stability).

There are many different compounds available on the market for plasticizing PVC and other polymers. Due to the good compatibility with polyvinyl chloride and the favorable application properties, in the past, diesters of phthalic acid with alcohols, such as diethylhexyl phthalate, diisononyl phthalate and diisodecyl phthalate, which have a variable chemical structure, have often been used as plasticizers.

There is a need to replace at least some of the aforementioned phthalate plasticizers as they can have harmful effects on human health. In this case, we are talking primarily about such sensitive areas of application of these plasticizers, as children's toys, packaging materials for food products and medical products.

Various alternative plasticizers are known in the art, with properties varying depending on the polymers and in particular suitable for use in polyvinyl chloride.

The class of plasticizers known from the prior art which can be used as an alternative to phthalates is based on the cyclohexane polycarboxylic acids described in WO 99/32427. Such compounds, which, unlike their non-hydrogenated aromatic counterparts, do not raise toxicological concerns, can also be used in health-sensitive applications.

International application WO 00/78704 describes certain esters of dialkylcyclohexane-1,3-acid and 1,4-dicarboxylic acid, suitable for use in synthetic materials as plasticizers.

Another class of plasticizers known in the art that can be used as an alternative to phthalates are terephthalic acid esters, for example, as described in WO 2009/095126.

In addition, esters of adipic acid are used as plasticizers, in particular also suitable for polyvinyl chloride. The most important representatives of such compounds are esters of adipic acid with alcohols containing 8, 9 or 10 carbon atoms, for example, di (2-ethylhexyl) adipate, diisononiladipates and diisodecyladipates, primarily used in film materials, shaped articles, artificial leather, cables and wires based on soft polyvinyl chloride in the event that these products are to be used at low temperatures. German patent DE 2009505 describes, for example, bisisononyl esters of adipic acid, which are obtained by esterification of adipic acid with isononanols obtained from 2-ethylhexene by oxosynthesis, involving conversion with carbon monoxide and hydrogen, and optionally carried out subsequent hydrogenation. The bisisononyl esters of adipic acid described in this document should be suitable for use as plasticizers for PVC, are characterized by low volatility and low viscosity, and give the PVC materials plasticized with them optimum frost resistance. US Pat. No. 4,623,748 describes dialkyl adipates which are obtained by converting propylene or butylene oligomers from the Dimersol process in the presence of supported tantalum (V) halides / oxides used as a catalyst, converting the obtained olefins with 8, 9, respectively 12 carbon atoms into alcohols with 9, 10, respectively 13 carbon atoms and esterification of the resulting alcohols with adipic acid. Dialkadipates of this type, which must have high flash points, are suitable for use as lubricants. EP 1,171,413 describes mixtures of diesters of adipic acid with isomeric nonanols, suitable for use as plasticizers for polyvinyl chloride, and the polyvinyl chloride materials to be plasticized should be characterized, in particular, by very high elasticity at low temperatures. In addition to monomeric plasticizers, various polyesters are also used as plasticizers. Polyester-based plasticizers are generally prepared by esterification of polyhydric alcohols, for example, 1,2-ethanediol, 1,2-propanediol, 1,3-propanediol, 1,3-butanediol, 1,4-butanediol, 1,5-pentanediol or 1,6-hexanediol, a polycarboxylic acid, for example succinic acid, glutaric acid, adipic acid, pimelic acid, buccal acid, sebacic acid, azelaic acid or phthalic acid. Alcohol end groups (in the case of synthesis with an excess of alcohol), if necessary, can be closed with monocarboxylic acids (for example, acetic acid), respectively, the end acid groups (in the case of synthesis with an excess of acid), if necessary, can be closed with monohydric alcohols (for example, 2-ethylhexanol, isononanol, 2 -propylheptanol or isodecanol). Plasticizers based on polyesters are primarily used in the production of film materials, coatings, profiled products, polymeric coatings for floors and cables based on soft polyvinyl chloride, if increased requirements are imposed on resistance to extraction, especially with gasolines, oils and fats. , UV resistance and plasticizer volatility.

US Pat. No. 5,281,647 describes a process for the preparation of polyester-based plasticizers, whereby dicarboxylic acids such as sebacic acid, glutaric acid, azelaic acid and / or adipic acid are converted with sterically highly hindered diols and small amounts of unbranched diols into complex polyesters, the acid end groups of which are esterified with another alcohol, as well as the use of these plasticizers for plasticizing rubber and polyvinyl chloride. Specifically, the preparation of a polyester plasticizer based on adipic acid, trimethylpentanediol and propylene glycol is described, the acid end groups being esterified with 2-ethylhexanol. These polyesters, which should be suitable for use as plasticizers for PVC and rubber, are highly resistant to extraction, as well as to oils and soapy water.

Romanian patent RO 104737 describes a polyester plasticizer based on adipic acid and propylene glycol, the acid end groups of which are esterified with 2-ethylhexanol. Corresponding polyesters, which should be suitable for use as plasticizer of PVC, in particular, are characterized by high stability during storage.

EP 1113034 describes polyester-based plasticizers which can be obtained by converting aliphatic dicarboxylic acids, neopentyl alcohol, at least one other diol and isomeric nonanols, as well as a process for their preparation and their use as plasticizers. The corresponding polyesters should in particular exhibit a low migration tendency, in particular in comparison with copolymers based on acrylonitrile, butadiene and styrene, polystyrene and polymethyl methacrylate.

It is also known that in order to achieve the required plasticizing properties, mixtures of plasticizers are used, for example, a combination of at least one plasticizer that provides optimal thermoplastic properties, but is insufficiently suitable for gelation, with at least one plasticizer that imparts optimal gelling ability.

International application WO 03/029339 discloses polyvinyl chloride compositions containing a cyclohexane polycarboxylic acid ester, as well as mixtures of a cyclohexane polycarboxylic acid ester with other plasticizers. Other suitable plasticizers are non-polymeric ester plasticizers, for example, terephthalic acid esters, phthalic acid esters, isophthalic acid esters and adipic acid esters. In addition, polyvinyl chloride compositions have been published that contain mixtures of cyclohexane polycarboxylic acid esters with various quick-gelling plasticizers. As suitable quick-gelling plasticizers in the cited application are mentioned, in particular, various benzoates, aromatic sulfonic acid esters, citrates and also phosphates. Polyester plasticizers are mentioned only in the general listing without any specification.

However, a significant disadvantage of most of the above-described plasticizers, respectively plasticizing compositions, which from a toxicological point of view can be an alternative to phthalates, is that they have insufficient compatibility with polymers, in particular, with polyvinyl chloride, that is, during use, they are largely sweat, and therefore cause a partial loss of the elastic properties of the polymers plasticized by them. First of all, this applies to plasticizers based on polyesters, the use of which in many areas makes it necessary to impose increased requirements on the resistance of these plasticizers in relation to extraction, primarily extraction with gasoline, oils and fats, as well as resistance to ultraviolet radiation and volatility.

The present invention was based on the object of providing a toxicological risk-free plasticizing composition containing at least one polyester-based plasticizer for thermoplastic polymers and elastomers, which has a high compatibility with the polymer to be plasticized and therefore does not tend to or only slightly tends to sweat, due to which the elastic properties of the polymers plasticized with the use of such plasticizers are retained for long periods of time.

The specified problem according to the invention is surprisingly solved by using a plasticizing composition containing:

a) one or more compounds of general formula (I):

wherein

X in each occurrence means a straight or branched alkylene group having 2-8 carbon atoms or a straight or branched chain alkenylene group having 2-8 carbon atoms containing at least one double bond,

Y is in each case a straight or branched alkylene group having 2-12 carbon atoms or a straight or branched chain alkenylene group having 2-12 carbon atoms containing at least one double bond,

a means an integer from 1 to 100, and

R ^{1 are} independently selected from the group consisting of straight or branched alkyl radicals with 1-12 carbon atoms,

wherein the Y groups contained in the compounds of formula (I) may be the same or may differ from each other,

and moreover, if the compounds of formula (I) contain more than one group X, the latter may be the same or may differ from each other,

and

b) one or more compounds of general formula (II):

in which R ² and R ^{3 are} independently selected from the group consisting of branched and unbranched alkyl radicals with 7-12 carbon atoms.

Another object of the present invention is a molding composition that contains at least one thermoplastic polymer or elastomer, as well as the above-mentioned plasticizing composition, which is described in detail below.

Another object of the present invention is the use of the above and below described plasticizing composition as a plasticizer for thermoplastic polymers, in particular polyvinyl chloride, and elastomers.

Another object of the present invention is the use of the above molding compositions for the manufacture of molded articles and films.

The plasticizing compositions according to the invention have at least one of the following advantages.

- The plasticizing compositions according to the invention are characterized by high compatibility with the polymers to be plasticized, in particular with polyvinyl chloride.

- The plasticizing compositions according to the invention are characterized by a lack of tendency or a slight tendency to sweat during the use of the final products.

Accordingly, the elastic properties of the plasticized polymers obtained using these plasticizing compositions are maintained for long periods of time.

- The plasticizing compositions according to the invention are well suited for imparting to polymers a variety of very different and complex technological and operational properties.

- The plasticizing compositions according to the invention are suitable for the manufacture of molded articles and films for sensitive applications such as medical devices, food packaging materials, indoor products such as apartments and vehicles, toys, care products for children and so on.

- For the preparation of the compounds (I) contained in the plasticizing compositions according to the invention, readily available starting materials can be used.

- The methods for the preparation of the compounds (I) used according to the invention are simple and effective.

Therefore, these compounds can be produced on an industrial scale without any problems.

In accordance with the present invention, alkylenes having 2-12 carbon atoms means divalent hydrocarbon residues having 2-12 carbon atoms. Such divalent hydrocarbon residues can be unbranched or branched. These include, for example, 1,2-ethylene, 1,2-propylene, 1,3-propylene, 1,3-butylene, 1,4-butylene, 2-methyl-1,3-propylene, 1,1- dimethyl-1,2-ethylene, 1,4-pentylene, 1,5-pentylene, 2-methyl-1,4-butylene, 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propylene, 1,6-hexylene, 2- methyl-1,5-pentylene, 3-methyl-1,5-pentylene, 2,3-dimethyl-1,4-butylene, 1,7-heptylene, 2-methyl-1,6-hexylene, 3-methyl- 1,6-hexylene, 2-ethyl-1,5-pentylene, 3-ethyl-1,5-pentylene, 2,3-dimethyl-1,5-pentylene, 2,4-dimethyl-1,5-pentylene, 1,8-octylene, 2-methyl-1,7-heptylene, 3-methyl-1,7-heptylene, 4-methyl-1,7-heptylene, 2-ethyl-1,6-hexylene, 3-ethyl- 1,6-hexylene, 2,3-dimethyl-1,6-hexylene, 2,4-di-methyl-1,6-hexylene, 1,9-nonylene, 2-methyl-1,8-octylene, 3- methyl-1,8-octylene, 4-methyl-1,8-octylene, 2-ethyl-1,7-heptylene, 3-ethyl-1,7-heptylene, 1,10-decylene, 2-methyl-1, 9-nonylene, 3-methyl-1,9-nonylene, 4-methyl-1,9-nonylene, 5-methyl-1,9-nonylene, 1,11-undecylene, 2-methyl-1,10-decylene, 3-methyl-1,10-decylene, 5-methyl-1,10-decylene, 1,12-dodecylene and others.

The definition "C2-12 alkylene" also refers to C2-8 alkylenes, C2-6 alkylenes, C2-5 alkylenes and C3-5 alkylenes.

Alkylenes having 2-12 carbon atoms are preferably branched or unbranched alkylene groups having 2-8 carbon atoms, particularly preferably branched or unbranched alkylene groups having 2-5 carbon atoms, even more preferably branched or unbranched alkylene groups having 3-5 carbon atoms in particular 1,2-propylene, 1,3-propylene, 1,4-butylene and 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propylene.

Alkylenes having 2-8 carbon atoms are preferably branched or unbranched alkylene groups having 2-6 carbon atoms, particularly preferably branched or unbranched alkylene groups having 2-5 carbon atoms, in particular 1,3-propylene and 1,4-butylene ...

In accordance with the present invention, under alkenylenes with 2-12 carbon atoms is meant divalent hydrocarbon residues with 2-12 carbon atoms, which may be unbranched or branched, and in their main chain there is at least one double bond, for example, one, two or three double bonds. Such compounds include, for example, ethenylene, propenylene, 1-methyl-ethenylene, 1-butenylene, 2-butenylene, 1-methylpropenylene, 2-methylpropenylene, 1-pentenylene, 2-pentenylene, 1-methyl-1-butenylene, 1 -methyl-2-butenylene, 1-hexenylene, 2-hexenylene, 3-hexenylene, 1-methyl-1-pentenylene, 1-methyl-2-pentenylene, 1-methyl-3-pentenylene, 1,4-dimethyl-1 -butenylene, 1,4-dimethyl-2-butenylene, 1-heptenylene, 2-heptenylene, 3-heptenylene, 1-octenylene, 2-octenylene, 3-octenylene, nonenylene, decenylene, undecenylene, dodecenylene and others.

Double bonds in alkenylene groups, independently of each other, can be in both the E- and Z-configuration, or in the form of a mixture of both configurations.

The definition "alkenylene of 2-12 carbon atoms" also refers to alkenylenes of 2 to 8 carbon atoms, alkenylene of 2 to 6 carbon atoms and alkenylene of 2 to 5 carbon atoms.

Alkenylene groups having 2-12 carbon atoms are particularly preferably branched and unbranched alkenylene groups having 2-8 carbon atoms and one double bond, in particular branched and unbranched alkenylene groups having 2-5 carbon atoms and one double bond.

Alkenylene groups having 2-8 carbon atoms are particularly preferably branched and unbranched alkenylene groups having 2-8 carbon atoms and one double bond, even more preferably branched and unbranched alkenylene groups having 2-6 carbon atoms and one double bond, in particular branched and unbranched alkenylene groups with 2-5 carbon atoms and one double bond.

In accordance with the present invention, C 1-12 alkyls are understood to mean straight or branched C 1-12 alkyl groups. These include, for example, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, fluoro-butyl, tert-butyl, n-pentyl, 2-pentyl, 2-methylbutyl, 3-methylbutyl, 1,2- dimethylpropyl, 1,1-dimethylpropyl, 2,2-dimethylpropyl, 1-ethylpropyl, n-hexyl, 1-methyl-pentyl, 2-methylpentyl, 1-ethylbutyl, 2-ethylbutyl, n-heptyl, 1-methylhexyl, 2- methylhexyl, 1-ethylpentyl, 2-ethylpentyl, 1-propylbutyl, 1-ethyl-2-methylpropyl, n-octyl, isooctyl, 2-ethylhexyl, n-nonyl, isononyl, 2-propylhexyl, n-decyl, isodecyl, 2- propylheptyl, n-undecyl, isoundecyl, n-dodecyl, isododecyl and others.

The definition of "alkyl of 1-12 carbon atoms" also refers to alkyls of 1-8 carbon atoms and alkyls of 1-5 carbon atoms, as well as alkyls of 7-12 carbon atoms and alkyls of 8-12 carbon atoms.

C 1-12 alkyls are preferably branched or unbranched C 1-8 alkyl groups, in particular branched or unbranched C 1-5 alkyl groups.

C7-12 alkyls are preferably branched or unbranched alkyl groups having 7-12 carbon atoms, in particular branched or unbranched alkyl groups having 8-11 carbon atoms.

Unless otherwise specified, the standards and standard parameters used for measurements refer to the relevant DIN, ISO, IUPAC standards or to the literature current on the date of this application.

In the absence of specific instructions, "phr" means the amount of a particular additive in parts by weight (parts by weight) per 100 wt. h. rubber.

Compounds of general formula (I)

X in general formula (I), independently of one another, is preferably a straight or branched alkylene group having 2 to 8 carbon atoms, particularly preferably a straight or branched chain alkylene group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms. In particular, X in general formula (I) is independently of one another an unbranched alkylene group having 2-5 carbon atoms, in particular 1,3-propylene or 1,4-butylene.

If the compounds of general formula (I) contain more than one group X, these groups are preferably the same.

Y in general formula (I) is preferably a straight or branched alkylene group having 2 to 12 carbon atoms, particularly preferably a straight or branched chain alkylene group having 2 to 8 carbon atoms. In particular, Y in general formula (I) denotes an unbranched or branched alkylene group with 2-5 carbon atoms, for example, 1,2-propylene, 1,3-propylene, 1,2-butylene, 1,3-butylene, 1 , 4-butylene, or 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propylene.

If the compounds of general formula (I) contain more than one group Y, in a first preferred embodiment these groups are the same.

If the compounds of general formula (I) contain more than one group Y, in the second embodiment these groups are different from each other.

The index "a" in the compounds of general formula (I) preferably means an integer from 1 to 70, particularly preferably an integer from 2 to 50, in particular an integer from 5 to 40.

The residues R ¹ in the general formula (I), independently of one another, are preferably methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, n-pentyl, 2-pentyl, 2-methylbutyl, 3-methylbutyl, n-hexyl , 1-methylpentyl, 2-methylpentyl, 1-ethylbutyl, 2-ethylbutyl, n-heptyl, 1-methylhexyl, 2-methyl-hexyl, 1-ethylpentyl, 2-ethylpentyl, 1-propylbutyl, n-octyl, isooctyl, 2 -ethylhexyl, n-nonyl, isononyl, 2-propylhexyl, n-decyl, isodecyl or 2-propylheptyl. Especially preferably, both radicals R ¹ in general formula (I) are simultaneously methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl or n-pentyl.

Since the compounds of general formula (I) used in the plasticizing compositions according to the invention are polymeric in character, they are not homogeneous compounds, but are mixtures of different compounds. First, compounds (I) have different chain lengths, that is, they are characterized by one or another average molecular weight. Secondly, both residues R ¹ , as well as the groups X and Y contained in the repeating units, may differ from each other. In addition, the radicals R ¹ may include the following isomer mixtures.

The polyester plasticizers of general formula (I) contained in the plasticizing compositions according to the invention generally have a weight average molecular weight in the range from 500 to 15000 g / mol, preferably from 2000 to 10000 g / mol, particularly preferably from 3000 to 8000 g / mole. The weight average molecular weight is typically determined by gel permeation chromatography in tetrahydrofuran using a polystyrene standard.

Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) can be performed in a standard instrument such as the Agilent Technologies Infinity 1100 GPC / SEC system. These measurement systems typically consist of a pump, column warmer, column heater, and a detector such as an Agilent 1200 refractometric detector.

The eluent can be tetrahydrofuran, which is passed through a combination of two columns thermostatted at 35 ° C., for example, at a flow rate of 1 ml / min. Samples dissolved in tetrahydrofuran at a concentration of 2 mg / ml are usually filtered prior to injection. Measurement results are usually evaluated using a calibration curve. The calibration curve can be generated, for example, using standard polystyrene samples with a narrow molecular weight distribution from M = 162 to M = 50400, which can be supplied, for example, from Polymer Laboratories.

The polyester plasticizers of the general formula (I) contained in the plasticizing compositions according to the invention generally have a density at 20 ° C, measured according to DIN 51757, in the range from 1,000 to 1,300 g / cm ³ , preferably from 1,100 to 1,200 g / cm ³ , particularly preferably from 1.120 to 1.160 g / cm ³ .

The polyester plasticizers of general formula (I) contained in the plasticizing compositions according to the invention generally have a viscosity at 20 ° C, measured according to DIN EN ISO 3219, in the range from 1000 to 20,000 mPas, preferably from 1500 to 15,000 mPa. S, particularly preferably 2000 to 14000 mPa⋅s. To determine the dynamic viscosity according to DIN EN ISO 3219, a sample of the corresponding polymer plasticizer is applied to the stator of a rotor-stator assembly of a suitable rheometer, which includes a 25 mm diameter cone-plate measuring unit. The dynamic viscosity is then determined at 20 ° C. and a rotation speed of 128 rpm.

The polyester plasticizers of general formula (I) contained in the plasticizing compositions according to the invention generally have a refractive index nD20, measured according to DIN 51423, in the range from 1.450 to 1.485, preferably from 1.460 to 1.480, particularly preferably from 1.462 to 1.472.

Compounds of general formula (II)

The residues R ² and R ³ in the compounds of general formula (II), independently of one another, are preferably n-octyl, n-nonyl, isononyl, 2-ethylhexyl, isodecyl, 2-propylheptyl, n-undecyl or isoundecyl.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the radicals R ² and R ³ in the compounds of general formula (II) are the same.

The residues R ² and R ³ in the compounds of the general formula (II) are particularly preferably simultaneously 2-ethylhexyl, isononyl or 2-propylheptyl.

A particularly preferred compound of general formula (II) is di (isononyl) -1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylate.

Specific embodiments of the invention

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in the compounds of general formulas (I) and (II):

X means a straight or branched chain alkylene group with 2-6 carbon atoms,

Y independently of each other denote a straight or branched alkylene group with 2-5 carbon atoms,

a means an integer from 5 to 40,

R ¹ independently of each other means an alkyl group with 1-12 carbon atoms and

R ² and R ³ respectively represent an alkyl group with 8-11 carbon atoms.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, in the compounds of general formulas (I) and (II):

X means an unbranched alkylene group with 2-5 carbon atoms,

Y independently of each other means a straight or branched alkylene group with 3-5 carbon atoms,

a means an integer from 5 to 40,

R ¹ both are simultaneously methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl or n-pentyl, and

R ² and R ^{3 are} both simultaneously 2-ethylhexyl, isononyl or 2-propylheptyl.

The selection of the amount of compounds (I) and (II) contained in the plasticizing composition according to the invention allows the properties of the plasticizers to be adapted to their intended use. For this purpose, ordinary experiments can be performed. For use in special fields, in some cases it may be advisable to add to the plasticizing compositions according to the invention other plasticizers other than compounds (I) and (II). Therefore, the plasticizing composition according to the invention may optionally contain at least one other plasticizer different from the compounds (I) and (II).

An additional plasticizer different from compounds (I) and (II) is selected from the group consisting of alkyl alkyl esters of phthalic acid, alkyl esters of trimellitic acid, alkyl esters of benzoic acid, esters of dibenzoic acid and glycols, esters of hydroxybenzoic acid, complex monoesters of saturated monocarboxylic acids, monoesters of saturated hydroxy monocarboxylic acids, esters of unsaturated monocarboxylic acids, esters of saturated hydroxydicarboxylic acids, amides and esters of aromatic sulphonic acids, esters of alkyl sulfonic acids, glycerol esters, esters of isosorbide di esters, isosorbide esters , citric acid triesters, alkylpyrrolidone derivatives, 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid esters, 2,5-tetrahydrofurandicarboxylic acid esters, epoxidized vegetable oils, epoxidized monoalkyl fatty acid esters, complex e dialkyl esters of 1,3-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid, dialkyl esters of 1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid, as well as polyesters of aliphatic and / or aromatic polycarboxylic acids and at least dihydric alcohols different from compounds (I).

A suitable alkylalkyl phthalic acid ester is, for example, benzyl butyl phthalate. Suitable trimellitic acid alkyl esters, independently of one another, preferably contain in the alkyl chains from 4 to 13 carbon atoms, in particular from 7 to 11 carbon atoms. Suitable alkyl esters of benzoic acid, independently of one another, preferably contain in the alkyl chains from 7 to 13 carbon atoms, in particular from 9 to 13 carbon atoms. Suitable alkyl esters of benzoic acid are, for example, isononyl benzoate, isodecyl benzoate or 2-propylheptyl benzoate. Suitable esters of dibenzoic acid and glycols are diethylene glycol dibenzoate, dipropylene glycol dibenzoate, tripropylene glycol dibenzoate and dibutylene glycol dibenzoate. Suitable monoesters of saturated monocarboxylic acids and saturated hydroxy monocarboxylic acids are, for example, esters of acetic acid, butyric acid, valeric acid or lactic acid. Suitable esters of unsaturated monocarboxylic acids are, for example, acrylic acid esters. Suitable saturated hydroxycarboxylic acid esters are, for example, malic acid esters. Suitable alkyl sulfonic acid esters preferably contain an alkyl radical of 8 to 22 carbon atoms. These include, for example, the phenyl or cresyl esters of pentadecyl sulfonic acid. Suitable isosorbide esters are isosorbide diesters, preferably esterified with carboxylic acids of 8-13 carbon atoms. Suitable phosphoric acid esters are tri-2-ethylhexylphosphate, trioctylphosphate, triphenylphosphate, isodecyldiphenylphosphate, bis (2-ethylhexyl) phenylphosphate and 2-ethylhexyldiphenylphosphate. In citric acid diesters and citric acid triesters, a hydroxyl group may be present in free or carboxylated, preferably acetylated form. The alkyl radicals of the acetylated citric acid triesters preferably independently of one another contain from 4 to 8 carbon atoms, in particular from 6 to 8 carbon atoms. Alkylpyrrolidone derivatives with alkyl radicals containing from 4 to 18 carbon atoms are suitable. Suitable 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid dialkyl esters, independently of one another, suitably contain from 7 to 13, preferably from 8 to 12, carbon atoms in the alkyl chains. Suitable 2,5-tetrahydrofurandicarboxylic acid dialkyl esters, independently of one another, suitably contain from 4 to 13, preferably from 8 to 12, carbon atoms in the alkyl chains. A suitable epoxidized vegetable oil is, for example, epoxidized soybean oil, which can be obtained, for example, from Galata-Chemicals (Lampertheim, Germany). Also suitable are epoxidized monoalkyl fatty acid esters, which can be supplied, for example, from PolyOne (USA) under the tradename reFlex ™. Suitable esters of cyclohexane-1,4-dicarboxylic acids, independently of one another, suitably contain in the alkyl chains from 4 to 13, in particular from 8 to 11, carbon atoms. A suitable cyclohexane-1,4-dicarboxylic acid ester is, for example, di (2-ethylhexyl) cyclohexane-1,4-dicarboxylate.

In all the cases discussed above, the alkyl radicals, respectively, may be unbranched or branched and, accordingly, may be the same or may differ from each other. Suitable and preferred alkyl radicals are shown in the above general embodiments of the invention.

The content of at least one other plasticizer, different from compounds (I) and (II), in the plasticizing composition according to the invention is usually from 0 to 50% by weight, preferably from 0 to 40% by weight, particularly preferably from 0 to 30 wt.%, in particular from 0 to 25 wt.%, respectively, based on the total amount of at least one other plasticizer and compounds (I) and (II) in the plasticizing composition. If another plasticizer is present, its preferred concentration, based on the total amount of at least one other plasticizer and compounds (I) and (II) in the plasticizing composition, is at least 0.01 wt%, preferably at least 0.1 wt% .%.

In a preferred embodiment, the plasticizing composition according to the invention does not contain other plasticizers than compounds (I) and (II).

The content of the compounds of general formula (I) in the plasticizing composition according to the invention is preferably from 10 to 99% by weight, particularly preferably from 30 to 95% by weight, in particular from 50 to 90% by weight, respectively based on the total amount compounds (I) and (II) in the plasticizing composition.

The content of the compounds of general formula (II) in the plasticizing composition according to the invention is preferably from 1 to 90% by weight, particularly preferably from 5 to 70% by weight, in particular from 10 to 50% by weight, respectively based on the total amount compounds (I) and (II) in the plasticizing composition.

The weight ratio between the compounds of general formula (II) and compounds of general formula (I) in the plasticizing composition according to the invention is preferably in the range from 1: 100 to 10: 1, particularly preferably from 1:20 to 2: 1, in particular from 1:10 to 1: 1.

Molding materials

Another object of the present invention is a molding composition containing at least one polymer and the above-mentioned plasticizing composition.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the polymer contained in the molding composition is a thermoplastic polymer.

Suitable thermoplastic polymers are any thermoplastically processable polymer. Such thermoplastic polymers are in particular selected from the group consisting of:

- homopolymers or copolymers containing units of at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of monoolefins with 2-10 carbon atoms (for example, ethylene or propylene), 1,3-butadiene, 2-chloro-1,3-butadiene, complex esters of alkyl acids with 2-10 carbon atoms and vinyl alcohol, vinyl chloride, vinylidene chloride, vinylidene fluoride, tetrafluoroethylene, glycidyl acrylate, glycidyl methacrylate, acrylates and methacrylates, the alcohol components of which are branched and unbranched alcohols with 1-10 carbon atoms, styrene compounds , acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile, maleic anhydride and α, β-ethylenically unsaturated monocarboxylic and dicarboxylic acids,

- homopolymers and copolymers of vinyl acetate,

- complex polyvinyl ethers,

- polycarbonates,

- polyesters, for example polyalkylene terephthalates, polyhydroxyalkanoates, polybutylene succinates, polybutylene succinate adipates,

- simple polyesters,

- polyether ketones,

- thermoplastic polyurethanes,

- polysulfides,

- polysulfones,

- polyethersulfones,

- complex alkyl ethers of cellulose,

as well as mixtures thereof.

Mention should be made, for example, of polyacrylates with the same or different alcohol residues selected from the group consisting of alcohols with 4-8 carbon atoms, in particular, butanol, hexanol, octanol and 2-ethylhexanol, polymethyl methacrylate, copolymers of methyl methacrylate and butyl acrylate, copolymers of acrylonadienitrile and styrene, ethylene-propylene copolymers, copolymers of ethylene, propylene and diene, polystyrene, copolymers of styrene and acrylonitrile, copolymers of acrylonitrile, styrene and acrylic ether, copolymers of styrene, butadiene and methyl methacrylate, and copolymers of styrene acid and styrene copolymers , polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl butyral, polycaprolactone, polyhydroxybutyric acid, polyhydroxyvaleric acid, polylactic acid, ethyl cellulose, cellulose acetate, cellulose propionate or cellulose acetate butyrate.

The at least one thermoplastic polymer contained in the molding composition according to the invention is preferably polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl butyral, vinyl acetate homopolymers and copolymers, styrene homopolymers and copolymers, polyacrylates, thermoplastic polyurethanes or polysulfides.

Another object of the present invention is a molding composition containing at least one elastomer and at least one of the above-mentioned plasticizing composition.

To achieve the required thermoplastic properties, different amounts of plasticizer are required, which depend on the thermoplastic polymer or the mixture of thermoplastic polymers contained in the molding compound. Several simple tests can be carried out to determine the amount of plasticizer. If at least one thermoplastic polymer contained in the molding composition according to the invention is not polyvinyl chloride, the content of the plasticizing composition according to the invention in the molding composition is generally from 0.5 to 300 parts by weight, preferably from 1.0 up to 130 parts by weight, particularly preferably from 2.0 to 100 parts by weight, respectively, per 100 parts by weight. rubber.

The at least one thermoplastic polymer contained in the molding composition according to the invention is in particular polyvinyl chloride.

Polyvinyl chloride is obtained by homopolymerization of vinyl chloride. The polyvinyl chloride used according to the invention can be obtained, for example, by suspension polymerization, microsuspension polymerization, emulsion polymerization or bulk polymerization. The preparation of polyvinyl chloride by the polymerization of vinyl chloride and the preparation and composition of plasticized polyvinyl chloride are described, for example, in Becker / Braun, Kunststf-Handbuch, volume 2/1: Polyvinylchlorid, 2nd edition, Carl Hanser, Munich.

The Fickentcher constant, which characterizes the molecular weight of polyvinyl chloride and which is determined according to DIN 53726, for the plasticized polyvinyl chloride according to the invention is most often in the range from 57 to 90, preferably from 61 to 85, in particular from 64 to 80.

According to the invention, the content of polyvinyl chloride in the mixtures is 20 to 95 wt%, preferably 40 to 90 wt%, in particular 45 to 85 wt%.

If the thermoplastic polymer contained in the molding compositions according to the invention is polyvinyl chloride, the total content of plasticizers in the molding composition is 5 to 300 parts by weight, preferably 15 to 150 parts by weight, particularly preferably 30 to 120 parts by weight. ., respectively, per 100 wt.h. rubber.

Another object of the present invention is molding compositions containing an elastomer and a plasticizing composition according to the invention.

The elastomer contained in the molding compositions according to the invention can be natural rubber, synthetic rubber or mixtures of both types of rubbers. Preferred synthetic rubbers include, for example, isoprene rubber, styrene butadiene rubber, butadiene rubber, nitrile butadiene rubber or chloroprene rubber.

Sulfur-curable rubbers or rubber mixtures are preferred.

According to the present invention, the elastomer content of the molding compositions according to the invention is 20 to 95 wt%, preferably 45 to 90 wt%, in particular 50 to 85 wt%, respectively, based on the total weight of the molding composition ...

In accordance with the present invention, the molding compositions which contain at least one elastomer may contain other suitable additives in addition to the above components. For example, they may contain reinforcing fillers, in particular carbon black or silica, other fillers, in particular phenolic resins, vulcanizing or crosslinking agents, vulcanization or crosslinking accelerators, activators, oils of various types, antioxidants and other additives that mix eg in tire or rubber compounds.

If the polymer contained in the molding compositions according to the invention is an elastomer, in particular rubber, the content of the plasticizing composition according to the invention in the molding composition is from 1.0 to 60 parts by weight, preferably from 2.0 to 40 parts by weight, particularly preferably 3.0 to 30 parts by weight, respectively, per 100 parts by weight. rubber.

In addition, the polymer contained in the molding compositions according to the invention can be understood as meaning mixtures of polyvinyl chloride with an elastomer. Suitable and preferred elastomers are listed above. The elastomer content of such polymer blends is generally 1 to 50 wt%, preferably 3 to 40 wt%, in particular 5 to 30 wt%.

The amount of the inventive plasticizing composition in such molding compositions required to achieve the desired properties can vary greatly depending on the elastomer content of the polymer blend.

The content of the plasticizing composition according to the invention in such molding compositions is usually in the range from 0.5 to 300 parts by weight, preferably from 1.0 to 150 parts by weight, particularly preferably from 2.0 to 120 parts by weight. respectively, per 100 wt.h. rubber.

Additives to molding materials

In accordance with the present invention, other suitable additives may be present in molding materials containing at least one thermoplastic polymer. Examples of such additives are stabilizers, internal lubricants, fillers, pigments, flame retardants, light stabilizers, blowing agents, polymer processing aids, impact enhancers, optical brighteners, antistatic agents, or biostabilizers.

Some useful additives are discussed in more detail below. The corresponding examples do not limit the list of additives that can be used in the molding compositions according to the invention, but serve only for illustration. All content-related data are stated as weight percent (wt.%) Based on the total molding mass.

As stabilizers, any conventional PVC stabilizers in solid or liquid form can be used, for example, conventional calcium / zinc, barium / zinc, lead or tin stabilizers, as well as acid-binding layered silicates.

The content of stabilizers in the molding compositions according to the invention can be from 0.05 to 7%, preferably from 0.1 to 5%, particularly preferably from 0.2 to 4%, in particular from 0.5 to 3%.

Internal lubricants reduce the adhesion of the polymer to be processed to metal surfaces and counteract frictional forces during mixing, plasticization and molding.

As an internal lubricant, the molding compositions according to the invention can contain any additives of a similar type commonly used for polymer processing. It is possible, for example, to use hydrocarbons, in particular oils, paraffins and polyethylene waxes, fatty alcohols with 6-20 carbon atoms, ketones, carboxylic acids, in particular, fatty acids and montanic acid, oxidized polyethylene wax, metal salts with carboxylic acids , carboxylic acid amides, carboxylic acid esters, for example, with alcohols (ethanol, fatty alcohols, glycerol, ethanediol, pentaerythritol) and long-chain carboxylic acids as the acidic component.

The internal lubricant content of the molding compositions according to the invention can be from 0.01 to 10%, preferably from 0.05 to 5%, particularly preferably from 0.1 to 3%, in particular from 0.2 to 2%.

Fillers primarily have a positive effect on the compressive, tensile and flexural strength of plasticized polyvinyl chloride, as well as its hardness and heat resistance.

In accordance with the present invention, the molding compositions can also contain fillers, for example, carbon black and other inorganic fillers, in particular natural calcium carbonates, for example, chalk, limestone and marble, synthetic calcium carbonates, dolomite, silicates, silicic acid, sand, diatomaceous earth , aluminosilicates such as kaolin, mica or feldspar. Preferably calcium carbonates, chalk, dolomite, kaolin, silicates, talc or carbon black are to be used as fillers.

The filler content in the molding compositions according to the invention can be from 0.01 to 80%, preferably from 0.1 to 60%, particularly preferably from 0.5 to 50%, in particular from 1 to 40%.

The molding compositions according to the invention can also contain pigments, which makes it possible to adapt the final product obtained to various possible applications.

Both inorganic and organic pigments can be used in accordance with the present invention. As inorganic pigments can be used, for example, cobalt pigments, in particular CoO / Al ₂ O ₃ , and chromium pigments, for example Cr ₂ O ₃ . Suitable organic pigments are, for example, monoazo pigments, condensed azo pigments, azomethine pigments, anthraquinone pigments, quinacridones, phthalocyanine pigments and dioxazine pigments.

The pigment content of the molding compositions according to the invention can be from 0.01 to 10%, preferably from 0.05 to 5%, particularly preferably from 0.1 to 3%, in particular from 0.5 to 2%.

In order to reduce the tendency to ignite and generate smoke during combustion, the molding compositions according to the invention can also contain flame retardants.

As flame retardants, for example, antimony trioxide, phosphate ester, chlorinated paraffin wax, aluminum hydroxide and boron compounds can be used.

The content of flame retardants in the molding compositions according to the invention can be from 0.01 to 10%, preferably from 0.1 to 8%, particularly preferably from 0.2 to 5%, in particular from 0.5 to 2%.

To protect articles made from the molding compositions according to the invention against damage to surface areas by light, the molding compositions can also contain light stabilizers, for example UV absorbers.

As light stabilizers in accordance with the present invention, for example, hydroxybenzophenones, hydroxyphenylbenzotriazoles, cyanoacrylates or so-called hindered amines, for example 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine derivatives, can be used.

The content of light stabilizers, for example UV absorbers, in the molding compositions according to the invention can be from 0.01 to 7%, preferably from 0.1 to 5%, particularly preferably from 0.2 to 4%, in particular from 0, 5 to 3%.

Obtaining compounds of general formula (I)

The polyester plasticizers according to the invention are prepared by methods known in the art, for example, as described in EP 1423476 B1, by esterification of aliphatic dicarboxylic acids with diols in the presence of an end group-forming monocarboxylic acid. The chain length or the average molecular weight of the polyester plasticizers can be controlled by varying the ratio between the supplied dicarboxylic acids and dihydric alcohols.

The dicarboxylic acids used for the preparation of the polyester plasticizers of the general formula (I) are preferably straight or branched alkyldicarboxylic acids having 2-6 carbon atoms, particularly preferably unbranched alkyldicarboxylic acids having 2-5 carbon atoms. The dicarboxylic acids used for the preparation of the polyester plasticizers of general formula (I) are in particular glutaric acid and / or adipic acid, in particular adipic acid.

The diols used to prepare the polyester plasticizers of general formula (I) are preferably linear or branched alkyldiols with 2-8 carbon atoms, for example 1,2-ethanediol, 1,2-propanediol, 1,3-propanediol, 1,2- butanediol, 1,3-butanediol, 1,4-butanediol, 1,2-pentanediol, 1,3-pentanediol, 2-methyl-1,3-pentanediol, 2,2-di-methyl-1,3- pentanediol, 1,4-pentanediol, 1,5-pentanediol, 1,2-hexanediol, 1,3-hexanediol, 1,4-hexanediol, 1,5-hexanediol, 1,6-hexanediol, or mixtures of these diols. Unbranched or branched C2-5 alkanediols are particularly preferred. The diols used for the preparation of polyester plasticizers of general formula (I) are in particular 1,2-propanediol, 1,3-butanediol, 1,4-butanediol, 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propanediol or mixtures of these diols ...

The polyester plasticizers of the general formula (I) according to the invention preferably comprise acetic acid, propionic acid, 2-ethylhexanoic acid, n-nonanoic acid, isononanoic acid, n-decanoic acid or 2-propylheptanoic acid as the terminal chain of the monocarboxylic acid, particularly preferably acetic acid acid.

The plasticizing composition according to the invention particularly preferably contains a compound of general formula (I), for which the following starting materials are used:

- adipic acid, 1,2-propanediol and acetic acid,

- adipic acid, 1,3-butanediol, 1,4-butanediol and acetic acid.

As catalysts for esterification, generally accepted catalysts are used, for example, mineral acids, in particular sulfuric acid or phosphoric acid; organic sulfonic acids, in particular methanesulfonic acid or p-toluenesulfonic acid; amphoteric catalysts, in particular titanium, tin (IV) or zirconium compounds, for example tetraalkoxy titanes, in particular tetrabutoxytitanium, and tin (IV) oxide. The esterification catalyst is used in an effective amount which is usually in the range from 0.05 to 10 wt%, preferably from 0.1 to 5 wt%, respectively, based on the sum of the acid component (or anhydride) and the alcohol component. Further details on the implementation of the esterification are given, for example, in US patents US 6,310,235 and US 5,324,853, as well as in German patent applications DE-A 2612355 (Derwent Abstract Nr. DW 77-72638 Y) and DE-A 1945359 (Derwent Abstract Nr. DW 73-27151 U). These documents in their entirety should be considered as relevant references.

Esterification can generally be carried out at atmospheric pressure as well as under reduced or elevated pressure. The esterification is preferably carried out at atmospheric or reduced pressure.

The esterification can be carried out without adding a solvent or in the presence of an organic solvent.

If the esterification is carried out in the presence of a solvent, an organic solvent which is inert under the reaction conditions is preferably used. Such solvents include, for example, aliphatic hydrocarbons, halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbons, aromatic and substituted aromatic hydrocarbons or ethers. The solvent is preferably selected from the group consisting of pentane, hexane, heptane, ligroin, petroleum ether, cyclohexane, dichloromethane, trichloromethane, tetrachloromethane, benzene, toluene, xylene, chlorobenzene, dichlorobenzenes, dibutyl ether, tetrahydrofuran and mixtures of them, dioxin.

Esterification is usually carried out in the temperature range from 50 to 250 ° C.

If the catalyst for the esterification is an organic or mineral acid, the esterification is usually carried out in the temperature range from 50 to 160 ° C.

In the case where the catalyst for the esterification is an amphoteric catalyst, the esterification is usually carried out in a temperature range from 100 to 250 ° C.

The esterification can be carried out in the absence or presence of an inert gas. An inert gas is generally understood to mean a gas that, under the given reaction conditions, does not react with the reactants, reagents, solvents or resulting products involved in the reaction.

In a preferred embodiment, the reactor is charged, for example, with diacid, dihydric alcohol and monoacid, as well as isopropyl butyl titanate used as an esterification catalyst, the reactants are first heated to a temperature of from 100 to 150 ° C and homogenized by stirring. In this case, the main part of the water released during esterification is distilled off, which is separated by distillation at temperatures above 100 ° C. The reaction mixture is then heated under normal pressure to a temperature of 200 to 300 ° C. A significant part of the excess distilled off alcohol components is separated from the azeotropic mixture with water and returned to the reactor. The reaction mixture is heated at a temperature of 200 to 300 ° C., a vacuum is set in the range of 0 to 500 mbar and the remainder of the reaction water is removed from the reaction mixture by passing nitrogen. The reaction mixture is stirred under vacuum while passing nitrogen and a temperature from 200 to 300 ° C until the acid number of the reaction mixture is less than 2 mg KOH / g. Then the reaction mixture is cooled to a temperature of 120 to 160 ° C and the monoacid is added. Thereafter, the vacuum is set again and the excess acid is removed. The reaction product is filtered at a temperature of 50 to 150 ° C.

The aliphatic dicarboxylic acids, diols and monobasic carboxylic acids used for the preparation of the compounds of general formula (I) can be obtained commercially or by synthetic methods known from the literature.

Commercially available plasticizers in the form of polyesters can also be used as polyester plasticizers of general formula (I). Suitable commercially available plasticizers of this type are, for example, Palamoll® 632 and Palamoll® 646, available from BASF SE (Ludwigshafen).

Compounds of general formula (II)

Compounds of general formula (II) can be obtained commercially or synthesized by methods known from the prior art, for example, by the method described in EP 1171413 B1.

Esters of 1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid are generally prepared by hydrogenation of the corresponding phthalic acid esters to the nucleus. Hydrogenation to the core can be carried out in the manner described in WO 99/32427. A particularly suitable hydrogenation process to the core is also described, for example, in international application WO 2011082991 A2.

In addition, esters of 1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid can be prepared by esterification of 1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid or suitable derivatives thereof with appropriate alcohols. The esterification can be carried out by conventional methods known to those skilled in the art.

The technology for obtaining compounds of general formula (II) provides for the implementation of esterification, respectively, transesterification using phthalic acid, 1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid or their suitable derivatives, as well as the corresponding alkanols with 7-12 carbon atoms as starting compounds. Such alcohols, as a rule, are not pure substances, but mixtures of isomers, the composition and degree of purity of which depends on the appropriate methods of their synthesis.

Preferred C7-12 alkanols which are used to prepare compounds (I) and (II) contained in the plasticizing composition according to the invention may be straight or branched, or may be mixtures of straight and branched C7-12 alkanols ... These include n-heptanol, isoheptanol, n-octanol, isooctanol, 2-ethylhexanol, n-nonanol, isononanol, isodecanol, 2-propylheptanol, n-undecanol, isoundecanol, n-dodecanol, or isododecanol. Particularly preferred are al-canols with 8-11 carbon atoms, in particular 2-ethylhexanol, isononanol and 2-propylheptanol, in particular isononanol.

Heptanol

The heptanols which are used to prepare the compounds of general formula (I) can be unbranched or branched, or can be mixtures of unbranched and branched heptanols. Preference is given to using mixtures of branched heptanols (also called isoheptanols), which can be obtained by hydroformylating a propylene dimer catalyzed by rhodium or preferably cobalt (for example, according to the Dimersol® technology) and subsequent hydrogenation of the obtained isoheptanals to a mixture of isoheptanols. The resulting mixture of isoheptanols, in accordance with the technology for its production, consists of several isomers. In general, unbranched heptanols can be obtained by hydroformylation of 1-hexene catalyzed by rhodium or preferably cobalt and subsequent hydrogenation of the resulting n-heptanal to n-heptanol. The hydroformylation of 1-hexene or propylene dimer can be carried out by known methods. In hydroformylation using rhodium catalysts that are homogeneously dissolved in the reaction medium, the catalyst can be used as uncomplexed rhodiumcarbonyls, which are formed under the conditions of the hydroformylation reaction in the corresponding reaction mixture under the action of synthesis gas, for example, from rhodium salts in situ, and complex rhodiumcarbonyl compounds, in particular, complexes with organic phosphines, for example triphenylphosphine, or organophosphites, preferably chelating bisphosphites, for example those described in US patent application US-A 5288918. In the cobalt catalyzed hydroformylation of these olefins, homogeneously soluble in the reaction mixture is generally used cobaltcarbonyl compounds, which are formed under the conditions of the hydroformylation reaction when exposed to synthesis gas from cobalt salts in situ. If the hydroformylation catalyzed by cobalt is carried out in the presence of trialkylphosphines or triarylphosphines, the target heptanols are directly formed as the hydroformylation product, and therefore no additional hydrogenation of aldehyde groups is required.

For the cobalt-catalyzed hydroformylation of 1-hexene, or mixtures of hexene isomers, suitable, for example, those described in Falbe, New Syntheses with Carbon Monoxide (Springer, Berlin, 1980, pp. 162-168), commercially available processes, for example, the process from Ruhrchemie, BASF process, Kuhlmann process or Shell process. In the processes of Ruhrchemie, BASF and Kuhlmann, ligand-modified cobaltcarbonyl compounds are not used as catalysts and mixtures of hexanals are obtained, while in the Shell process (DE-A 1593368) modified phosphine or phosphite ligands of cobaltcarbonyl compounds, which, due to their additional high hydrogenating activity, provide direct preparation of mixtures of hexanols. Preferred embodiments of hydroformylation using unligand-modified cobaltcarbonyl complexes are described in detail in German patent applications DE-A 2139630, DE-A 2244373 and DE-A 2404855, as well as in international application WO 01014297.

For rhodium-catalyzed hydroformylation of 1-hexene or mixtures of hexene isomers, the commercially available rhodium-catalyzed low pressure hydroformylation process described in US patent application US-A 4,148,830 using triphenylphosphine ligands modified rhodium carbonyl compounds can be used. For the rhodium-catalyzed hydroformylation of long-chain olefins, similar to the above-mentioned processes for preparing mixtures of hexene isomers, it is preferable to use unligand-modified rhodium carbonyl compounds as a catalyst, and in contrast to the process carried out at low pressure, it is necessary to set an increased pressure (from 80 to 400 bar). The implementation of such rhodium catalyzed hydroformylation processes at high pressure is described, for example, in European patent applications EP-A 695734, EP-B 880494 and EP-B 1047655.

The mixtures of isoheptanals obtained as a result of hydroformylation of mixtures of hexene isomers are subjected to catalytic hydrogenation carried out by conventional methods to mixtures of isoheptanols. For this purpose, heterogeneous catalysts are preferably used, which contain metals and / or metal oxides of the VI, VII and VIII groups as a catalytically active component, as well as the I-th side group of the periodic table of elements, in particular chromium, molybdenum, manganese, rhenium, iron, cobalt, nickel and / or copper, optionally supported on a substrate, for example Al ₂ O ₃ , SiO ₂ and / or TiO ₂ . Such catalysts are described, for example, in German patent applications DE-A 3228881, DE-A 2628987 and DE-A 2445303. The hydrogenation of isoheptanals is particularly preferably carried out using an excess of hydrogen (its amount exceeds the stoichiometric amount of hydrogen required for hydrogenation of isoheptanals by an amount equal to from 1.5 to 20%), at temperatures from 50 to 200 ° C and a hydrogen pressure from 25 to 350 bar, moreover, in order to avoid side reactions, a small amount of water is preferably added to the product fed to the hydrogenation according to German patent application DE-A 2628987 in the form of an aqueous solution of an alkali metal hydroxide or carbonate (in accordance with the technical solution published in the international application WO 01087809).

Octanol

2-Ethylhexanol, which for many years has been a maximally produced plasticizing alcohol, can be obtained by aldol condensation of n-butyraldehyde to 2-ethylhexenal and subsequent hydrogenation of 2-ethylhexenal to 2-ethylhexanol (see Ullmann's Encyclopedia 5-Industrial Chemistry; e edition, Volume A 10, pp. 137-140, VCH Verlagsgesellschaft GmbH, Weingheim 1987).

Generally unbranched octanols can be obtained by hydroformylation of 1-heptene catalyzed by rhodium or preferably cobalt and subsequent hydrogenation of the resulting n-octanal to n-octanol. The 1-heptene required for this can be isolated from hydrocarbons obtained by the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis.

Unlike 2-ethylhexanol or n-octanol, alcohol isooctanol, due to the specificity of its production, does not mean a homogeneous chemical compound, but an isomeric mixture of differently branched C ₈ alcohols, for example, a mixture consisting of 2,3-dimethyl-1 -hexanol, 3,5-dimethyl-1-hexanol, 4,5-dimethyl-1-hexanol, 3-methyl-1-heptanol and 5-methyl-1-heptanol, which, depending on the condition and production technology, can be in isooctanol in different quantitative proportions. Isooctanol is usually obtained by codimerizing propylene with butenes, preferably n-butenes, and then hydroformylating the resulting mixture of heptene isomers. The mixture of octanal isomers obtained by hydroformylation can then be hydrogenated by conventional methods to give isooctanol.

The codimerization of propylene with butenes to isomeric heptenes can preferably be carried out by the homogeneously catalyzed Dimersol® method (Chauvin et al; Chem. Ind .; May 1974, pp. 375-378), whereby a soluble nickel-phosphine complex is used as catalyst in the presence of ethylaluminiumchloride compounds, for example ethylaluminium dichloride. As the phosphine ligands of the nickel complex catalyst, for example, tributylphosphine, triisopropylphosphine, tricyclohexylphosphine and / or tribenzylphosphine can be used. The transformation takes place at temperatures from 0 to 80 ° C, with the pressure being preferably set at which the olefins are dissolved in the liquid reaction mixture (Cornils; Hermann: Applied Homogeneous Catalysis with Organometallic Compounds, 2nd Edition, Volume 1, p. 254 -259, Wiley-VCH, Weingheim, 2002).

As an alternative to the Dimersol® method, which involves the use of nickel catalysts homogeneously dissolved in the reaction medium, the codimerization of propylene with butenes can also be carried out using supported heterogeneous NiO-based catalysts, whereby a distribution of heptene isomers similar to the homogeneously catalyzed method is obtained. Such catalysts are used, for example, in the so-called Octol® process (Hydrocarbon Processing, February 1986, pp. 31-33); a well-suited specific nickel heterogeneous catalyst for the dimerization or codimerization of olefins is published, for example, in WO 9514647.

Instead of nickel-based catalysts for the codimerization of propylene with butenes, heterogeneous Brønsted acid catalysts can also be used, generally producing more branched heptenes than in the nickel-catalyzed process. Examples of suitable catalysts are solid phosphoric acid catalysts such as phosphoric acid impregnated diatomaceous earth or diatomaceous earth, which are used to carry out the dimerization or oligomerization of PolyGas® olefins (Chitnis et al; Hydrocarbon Engineering 10, Nr. 6, June 2005 ). Brønsted acid catalysts very well suited for the codimerization of propylene with butenes to heptenes are the zeolites used in the EMOGAS® process (an improved PolyGas® process).

1-Heptene and mixtures of heptene isomers are converted to n-octanal, respectively, a mixture of octanal isomers, by the known method described above in the description of the preparation of n-heptanal and a mixture of heptanal isomers by hydroformylation catalyzed by rhodium or cobalt, preferably hydroformylation catalyzed by cobalt.

The products thus obtained are then hydrogenated to the corresponding octanols, for example using one of the above catalysts used for the preparation of n-heptanol and isoheptanol.

Nonanol

The substantially unbranched nonanol can be obtained by rhodium or preferably cobalt catalyzed hydroformylation of 1-octene and subsequent hydrogenation of the n-nonanal thus obtained. The starting olefin (1-octene) can be obtained, for example, by oligomerization of ethylene under the action of a nickel complex catalyst that is homogeneously soluble in the reaction medium (1,4-butanediol), for example, containing diphenylphosphinoacetic acid or 2-diphenylphosphinobenzoic acid as ligands. This process is also known as the Shell Higher Olefins Process or SHOP process (see Weisermel, Arpe: Industrial Organische Chemie; 5th edition; p. 96, Wiley-VCH, Weingheim, 1998).

Isononanol, which is used for the synthesis of diisononyl esters of general formulas (I) and (II) contained in the plasticizing composition according to the invention, is a heterogeneous chemical compound, and a mixture of differently branched isomers of C ₉ alcohols, which, depending on their method, the preparations, in particular also from the starting materials used, can have varying degrees of branching. In general, isononanols are prepared by dimerization of butenes, resulting in mixtures of isooctenes, subsequent hydroformylation of mixtures of isooctenes, and hydrogenation of the mixtures of isononanals obtained therewith, accompanied by the formation of mixtures of isononanols (see Ullmann's Encyclopedia Industrial Chemistry, 5th Edition, Vol. A1-292, p. 291 , VCH Verlagsgesellschaft GmbH, Weingheim, 1995).

As a starting material for the production of isononanols, you can use both isobutene, cis-2-butene and trans-2-butene, and 1-butene, or mixtures of these butene isomers. In the case of the dimerization of pure isobutene, predominantly catalyzed by a liquid acid, for example sulfuric or phosphoric acid, solid, for example, supported (diatomaceous earth, SiO ₂ or Al ₂ O ₃ ) phosphoric acid, zeolites or Brønsted acids, predominantly highly branched 2 , 4,4-trimethylpentene, also called diisobutylene, from which the highly branched isononanols are obtained by hydroformylation and subsequent hydrogenation of the resulting aldehyde.

Low branching isononanols are preferred. Mixtures of such low-branched isononanols are prepared from linear butenes (1-butene, cis-2-butene and / or trans-2-butene), which may optionally also contain small amounts of isobutene, by means of the above-described butene dimerization, isooctene hydroformylation and hydrogenation of the resulting mixture isononanals. The preferred starting material is the so-called raffinate II, which is recovered from the C ₄ fraction of a cracking unit, for example a steam cracker, and after removal of alleles, acetylenes and dienes, in particular 1,3-butadiene, by their partial hydrogenation to linear butenes or their isolation by extractive distillation, for example, by means of N-methylpyrrolidone, and subsequent catalyzed by Bronsted acid, removal of the isobutene contained therein by its conversion with methanol or isobutanol, is used in a commercially available process for the preparation of methyl tert-butyl ether (fuel additive) or isobutyl- tert-butyl ether, used to obtain pure isobutene.

Raffinate II, in addition to 1-butene, cis-2-butene and trans-2-butene, also contains n-butane, isobutane, and residual amounts (up to 5 wt%) of isobutene.

The dimerization of linear butenes or a mixture of butenes contained in raffinate II can be carried out by the usual commercially available methods described above for the preparation of mixtures of isoheptenes, for example, using heterogeneous catalysts based on Brønsted acids used in the PolyGas® or EMOGAS® processes, by the Dimersol® method , involving the use of nickel complex catalysts homogeneously dissolved in the reaction medium, by the Octol® method, involving the use of heterogeneous catalysts containing nickel (II) oxide, or by the method proposed in the international application WO 9514647. The mixtures of isooctenes obtained in this case are converted into mixtures of isononanals by the known methods indicated above when describing the preparation of mixtures of heptanal isomers by rhodium or cobalt catalyzed hydroformylation, preferably by cobalt catalyzed hydroformylation. The isononanal mixtures are then hydrogenated to suitable isonanol mixtures, for example, by means of one of the catalysts described above in the preparation of isoheptanol.

The mixtures of isononanol isomers obtained as indicated above can be characterized by their isoindex, which can be calculated by multiplying the degree of branching of the individual isononanol components of the isononanol mixture by their percentage in the isononanol mixture. For example, n-nonanol (branching degree 0), methyloctanols (one branching, branching degree 1), and dimethylheptanols (two branches, branching degree 2) contribute to the isoindex of a mixture of isonanols. The higher the linearity, the lower the isoindex of the corresponding isonanol mixture. Thus, the isoindex of a mixture of isononanols can be determined by means of its gas chromatographic separation into individual isomers and a corresponding quantitative assessment of their percentage in the mixture of isononanols, calculated by standard methods of gas chromatographic analysis. In order to increase the volatility and improve the gas chromatographic separation of isomeric nonanols, it is advisable to trimethylsilylate the latter prior to gas chromatographic analysis by standard methods, for example, by conversion with N-methyl-N-trimethylsilyl trifluoroacetamide. For the most efficient separation of individual components in gas chromatographic analysis, capillary columns with polydimethylsiloxane as stationary phase are preferably used. Such capillary columns are commercially available and only a few appropriate laboratory experiments need to be performed by those skilled in the art to select the optimum from a wide range of capillary columns available commercially.

The diisononyl esters of the general formulas (I) and (II) used in the plasticizing composition according to the invention are generally esterified with isononanols with an isoindex of 0.8 to 2, preferably 1.0 to 1.8, particularly preferably 1, 1 to 1.5, which can be obtained by the above methods.

Below are only exemplary possible compositions of isonanol mixtures that can be used to obtain compounds of general formulas (I) and (II) used according to the invention, and it should be noted that the amount of the individual indicated isomers in the isononanol mixture can vary depending on the composition of the starting material, for example , raffinate II, the composition of butenes in which may fluctuate taking into account the conditions of production of the raffinate, as well as fluctuations in production conditions, for example, the "age" of the catalysts used and the temperatures and pressures adjusted to it.

A mixture of isononanols which is synthesized by cobalt catalyzed hydroformylation and subsequent hydrogenation from a mixture of isooctenes obtained using raffinate II as starting material using a catalyst and a method according to WO 9514647 may have, for example, the following composition:

- 1.73 to 3.73 wt%, preferably 1.93 to 3.53 wt%, particularly preferably 2.23 to 3.23 wt% 3-ethyl-6-methyl-hexanol,

- 0.38 to 1.38 wt%, preferably 0.48 to 1.28 wt%, particularly preferably 0.58 to 1.18 wt% of 2,6-dimethyl-heptanol,

- from 2.78 to 4.78 wt.%, preferably from 2.98 to 4.58 wt.%, particularly preferably from 3.28 to 4.28 wt.% 3,5-dimethyl-heptanol,

- from 6.30 to 16.30 wt.%, preferably from 7.30 to 15.30 wt.%, particularly preferably from 8.30 to 14.30 wt.% of 3,6-dimethyl-heptanol,

- from 5.74 to 1 1.74 wt.%, preferably from 6.24 to 1 1.24 wt.%, particularly preferably from 6.74 to 10.74 wt.% of 4,6-dimethyl-heptanol,

- 1.64 to 3.64% by weight, preferably 1.84 to 3.44% by weight, particularly preferably 2.14 to 3.14% by weight of 3,4,5-trimethyl-hexanol,

- from 1.47 to 5.47 wt.%, preferably from 1.97 to 4.97 wt.%, particularly preferably from 2.47 to 4.47 wt.% of 3,4,5-trimethyl-hexanol, 3 -methyl-4-ethylhexanol and 3-ethyl-4-methylhexanol,

- from 4.00 to 10.00 wt.%, preferably from 4.50 to 9.50 wt.%, particularly preferably from 5.00 to 9.00 wt.% of 3,4-dimethyl-heptanol,

- 0.99 to 2.99 wt%, preferably 1.19 to 2.79 wt%, particularly preferably 1.49 to 2.49 wt% of 4-ethyl-5-methylhexanol and 3-ethylheptanol ,

- from 2.45 to 8.45 wt.%, preferably from 2.95 to 7.95 wt.%, particularly preferably from 3.45 to 7.45 wt.% of 4,5-dimethyl-heptanol and 3-methyloctanol ,

- from 1.21 to 5.21 wt.%, preferably from 1.71 to 4.71 wt.%, particularly preferably from 2.21 to 4.21 wt.% of 4,5-dimethyl-heptanol,

- from 1.55 to 5.55 wt.%, preferably from 2.05 to 5.05 wt.%, particularly preferably from 2.55 to 4.55 wt.% of 5,6-dimethyl-heptanol,

- 1.63 to 3.63 wt%, preferably 1.83 to 3.43 wt%, particularly preferably 2.13 to 3.13 wt% of 4-methyloctanol,

- 0.98 to 2.98 wt%, preferably 1.18 to 2.78 wt%, particularly preferably 1.48 to 2.48 wt% 5-methyloctanol,

- 0.70 to 2.70 wt%, preferably 0.90 to 2.50 wt%, particularly preferably 1.20 to 2.20 wt% of 3,6,6-trimethyl-hexanol,

- 1.96 to 3.96% by weight, preferably 2.16 to 3.76% by weight, particularly preferably 2.46 to 3.46% by weight of 7-methyloctanol,

- from 1.24 to 3.24 wt.%, preferably from 1.44 to 3.04 wt.%, particularly preferably from 1.74 to 2.74 wt.% of 6-methyloctanol,

- 0.1 to 3% by weight, preferably 0.2 to 2% by weight, particularly preferably 0.3 to 1% by weight, n-nonanol,

- from 25 to 35 wt.%, preferably from 28 to 33 wt.%, particularly preferably from 29 to 32 wt.%, other alcohols with 9 and 10 carbon atoms,

moreover, the total amount of these components is 100 wt%

In accordance with the above embodiments of the invention, a mixture of isononanols synthesized by cobalt catalyzed hydroformylation and subsequent hydrogenation of a mixture of isooctenes obtained according to the PolyGas® or EMOGAS® technology using an ethylene-containing mixture of butenes as starting material, depending on the composition of the starting material and fluctuations in the reaction conditions can have the following composition:

- 6.0 to 16.0 wt%, preferably 7.0 to 15.0 wt%, particularly preferably 8.0 to 14.0 wt%, n-nonanol,

- 12.8 to 28.8 wt%, preferably 14.8 to 26.8 wt%, particularly preferably 15.8 to 25.8 wt% of 6-methyloctanol,

- 12.5 to 28.8 wt%, preferably 14.5 to 26.5 wt%, particularly preferably 15.5 to 25.5 wt% of 4-methyloctanol,

- 3.3 to 7.3% by weight, preferably 3.8 to 6.8% by weight, particularly preferably 4.3 to 6.3% by weight of 2-methyloctanol,

- 5.7 to 11.7% by weight, preferably 6.3 to 11.3% by weight, particularly preferably 6.7 to 10.7% by weight of 3-ethylheptanol,

- 1.9 to 3.9% by weight, preferably 2.1 to 3.7% by weight, particularly preferably 2.4 to 3.4% by weight of 2-ethylheptanol,

- 1.7 to 3.7% by weight, preferably 1.9 to 3.5% by weight, particularly preferably 2.2 to 3.2% by weight of 2-propylhexanol,

- from 3.2 to 9.2 wt.%, preferably from 3.7 to 8.7 wt.%, particularly preferably from 4.2 to 8.2 wt.% of 3,5-dimethylheptanol,

- 6.0 to 16.0 wt%, preferably 7.0 to 15.0 wt%, particularly preferably 8.0 to 14.0 wt% of 2,5-dimethylheptanol,

- 1.8 to 3.8 wt%, preferably 2.0 to 3.6 wt%, particularly preferably 2.3 to 3.3 wt% 2,3-dimethylheptanol,

- 0.6 to 2.6 wt%, preferably 0.8 to 2.4 wt%, particularly preferably 1.1 to 2.1 wt% 3-ethyl-4-methylhexanol,

- 2.0 to 4.0% by weight, preferably 2.2 to 3.8% by weight, particularly preferably 2.5 to 3.5% by weight of 2-ethyl-4-methylhexanol,

- from 0.5 to 6.5 wt.%, preferably from 1.5 to 6 wt.%, particularly preferably from 1.5 to 5.5 wt.%, other alcohols with 9 carbon atoms,

and the total amount of these components is 100 wt.%.

Decanol

The isodecanol used for the synthesis of the diisodecyl esters of general formulas (I) and (II) contained in the plasticizing composition according to the invention does not mean a homogeneous chemical compound, but a complex mixture of differently branched isomeric decanols.

Isodecanol is generally obtained by trimerization of propylene catalyzed by nickel or Brønsted acid, for example, in accordance with the above PolyGas® or EMOGAS® technologies, followed by hydroformylation of the resulting mixture of isononene isomers using homogeneous rhodium carbonyl or cobaltcarbonyl catalysts, preferably cobaltcarbonyl catalysts the resulting mixture of isodecanal isomers, for example, using the catalysts and methods described above for the preparation of alcohols with 7-9 carbon atoms (Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry; 5th edition, volume A1, p. 293, VCH Verlagsgesellschaft GmbH, Weingheim 1985). The isodecanol obtained in this case is generally a highly branched compound.

2-Propylheptanol, which is used to synthesize the di (2-propylheptyl) esters of general formulas (I) and (II), contained in the plasticizing composition according to the invention, can be pure 2-propylheptanol or mixtures of propylheptanol isomers, which are generally formed in the industrial production of 2-propylheptanol and which are usually also called 2-propylheptanol.

Pure 2-propylheptanol can be obtained by aldol condensation of n-valeric aldehyde and subsequent hydrogenation of the resulting 2-propylheptenal, for example, in accordance with US-A 2921089. In general, commercially available 2-propylheptanol in addition to 2-propylheptanol as the main component also contains technologically determined one or more isomers of 2-propylheptanol: 2-propyl-4-methylhexanol, 2-propyl-5-methylhexanol, 2-isopropylheptanol, 2-isopropyl-4-methylhexanol, 2-isopropyl-5-methylhexanol nol and / or 2-propyl-4,4-dimethylpentanol. The presence of other isomers of 2-propylheptanol in 2-propylheptanol is possible, for example, 2-ethyl-2,4-dimethylhexanol, 2-ethyl-2-methylheptanol and / or 2-ethyl-2,5-dimethylhexanol, however, due to low By the rates of formation of aldehyde precursors of these isomers in the process of aldol condensation, they are present in 2-propylheptanol only in trace amounts and practically have no effect on the plasticizing properties of compounds obtained from such mixtures of 2-propylheptanol isomers.

As a starting material for the production of 2-propylheptanol, hydrocarbon sources of various kinds can be used, for example, 1-butene, 2-butene, raffinate I (a mixture of alkanes and alkenes obtained from the C ₄ fraction of a cracking unit after separating allenes, acetylenes and dienes, which in addition to 1-butene and 2-butene, it also contains significant amounts of isobutene) or raffinate II, which is obtained from raffinate I by separating isobutene and which, as olefin components, apart from 1-butene and 2-butene, contains only minor amounts of isobutene. It is obvious that mixtures of raffinate I with raffinate II can also be used as starting material for the production of 2-propylheptanol. Said olefins or mixtures of olefins can be hydroformylated by conventional methods involving the use of cobalt or rhodium catalysts, whereby a mixture of n-valeric aldehyde with isovaleric aldehyde is formed from 1-butene (isovaleric aldehyde is called 2-methylbutanal) and the ratio between n-valeric aldehyde and iso-aldehyde aldehyde depending on the catalyst used and the hydroformylation conditions, it can be varied within relatively wide ranges. For example, when using a triphenylphosphine-modified homogeneous rhodium catalyst (Rh / TPP), n-valeric aldehyde and isovaleric aldehyde are formed from 1-butene in a ratio generally ranging from 10: 1 to 20: 1, while when using rhodium hydroformylation catalysts modified with phosphite ligands (for example, according to US patent application US-A 5288918 or international application WO 05028407) or phosphoamidite ligands (for example, according to international application WO 0283695), almost exclusively n-valeric aldehyde is formed. While the conversion of 2-butene by hydroformylation under the action of the Rh / TPP catalyst system proceeds at an extremely low rate, and therefore most of the 2-butene can be recovered from the hydroformylation products, hydroformylation of 2-butene using the above rhodium catalysts, modified with phosphite or phosphoramidite ligands, occurs quite successfully, and n-valerian aldehyde is predominantly formed. In contrast, isobutene contained in the olefinic feedstock, virtually any catalyst system, albeit at different rates, hydroformylates to 3-methylbutanal and, depending on the catalyst, to a limited extent to pivalic aldehyde.

C ₅ -aldehydes obtained depending on the starting materials and catalysts used, i.e. n-valeric aldehyde, if necessary in a mixture with isovaleric aldehyde, 3-methylbutanal and / or pivalic aldehyde, can be completely or partially subjected to distillation separation prior to aldol condensation on the individual components, ie in this case it is also possible to influence and control the isomeric composition of the C ₁₀ alcohol component of the ester mixtures used according to the invention. In addition, it is possible to send a mixture of C ₅ aldehydes to aldol condensation formed during hydroformylation without preliminary isolation of individual isomers. In the case of aldol condensation, which can be carried out by means of an alkaline catalyst, in particular an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide, by a method, for example, described in European patent application EP-A 366089, as well as in US patent applications US-A 4426524 and US-a 5434313, using n-valeraldehyde is formed as a single 2-propilgeptenal condensation product, while when using the mixture of isomers of C ₅ -aldehydes is produced mixture of isomers consisting of aldol products identical molecules gomokondensatsii aldehyde condensation and cross-aldol different isomers of valerian aldehyde. Due to the targeted conversion of the individual isomers, the aldol condensation can obviously be controlled in such a way that the predominant or complete formation of the individual isomeric aldol condensation product occurs. The corresponding products of aldol condensation, usually after preliminary, preferably distillation separation from the reaction mixture and, if necessary, carried out by distillation purification, can be subjected to subsequent hydrogenation using conventional hydrogenation catalysts, for example, the aforementioned aldehyde hydrogenation catalysts, to obtain the corresponding alcohols or alcohol mixtures.

As indicated above, the compounds of general formula (II) contained in the plasticizing composition according to the invention can be esterified with pure 2-propylheptanol. However, for the preparation of these esters, mixtures of 2-propylheptanol with the aforementioned propylheptanol isomers are generally used, the content of 2-propylheptanol in which is at least 50 wt%, preferably 60 to 98 wt%, particularly preferably 80 to 95 wt%, in particular 85 to 95 wt%

Suitable mixtures of 2-propylheptanol with propylheptanol isomers contain, for example, 60 to 98 wt% 2-propylheptanol, 1 to 15 wt% 2-propyl-4-methylhexanol, 0.01 to 20 wt% 2-propyl -5-methyl-hexanol and from 0.01 to 24 wt.% 2-isopropylheptanol, and the total amount of individual components of such a mixture does not exceed 100 wt.% The total amount of individual components of such a mixture is preferably 100 wt.%

Other suitable mixtures of 2-propylheptanol with propylheptanol isomers contain, for example, from 75 to 95% by weight of 2-propylheptanol, from 2 to 15% by weight of 2-propyl-4-methylhexanol, from 1 to 20% by weight of 2-propyl- 5-methyl-hexanol, 0.1 to 4 wt% 2-isopropylheptanol, 0.1 to 2 wt% 2-isopropyl-4-methylhexanol and 0.1 to 2 wt% 2-isopropyl-5 -methyl-hexanol, and the total amount of individual components of such a mixture does not exceed 100 wt.% The total amount of individual components of such a mixture is preferably 100 wt.%

Preferred mixtures of 2-propylheptanol with propylheptanol isomers contain 85 to 95 wt% 2-propylheptanol, 5 to 12 wt% 2-propyl-4-methylhexanol, 0.1 to 2 wt% 2-propyl-5- methylhexanol and from 0.01 to 1 wt.% 2-isopropylheptanol, and the total amount of individual components of such a mixture does not exceed 100 wt.% The total amount of individual components of such a mixture is preferably 100 wt.%

When using the indicated mixtures of 2-propylheptanol isomers instead of pure 2-propylheptanol to obtain compounds of general formulas (I) and (II), the isomeric composition of the alkyl ester groups, respectively, of the alkyl ether groups practically corresponds to the composition of the propylheptanol isomer mixtures used for esterification.

Undecanol

The undecanols which are used to prepare the compounds of the general formulas (I) and (II) contained in the plasticizing composition according to the invention may be unbranched or branched, or may be mixtures of unbranched and branched undecanols. As the alcohol component, mixtures of branched undecanols, also called isoundecanols, are preferably used.

The substantially unbranched undecanol can be obtained by hydroformylation of 1-decene catalyzed by rhodium or preferably cobalt, and subsequent hydrogenation of the n-undecanal thus obtained. 1-Decene as starting olefin is obtained by the SHOP method used for the preparation of 1-octene described above.

To obtain branched isoundecanol, 1-decene obtained by the SHOP method can be skeletally isomerized, for example by means of acidic zeolite molecular sieves, as described in WO 9823566, whereby mixtures of isomeric decenes are formed, the hydroformylation of which is catalyzed by rhodium or preferably cobalt, followed by hydrogenation of the resulting mixtures of isoundecanals leads to the formation of isoundecanol, which is necessary for the preparation of compounds (I) and (II) used according to the invention. The hydroformylation of 1-decene or mixtures of isodecenes catalyzed by rhodium or cobalt can be carried out analogously to the synthesis of alcohols with 7-10 carbon atoms described above.

The same applies to the hydrogenation of n-undecanal or mixtures of isoundecanals to n-undecanol or isoundecanol.

After distillation purification of the discharged hydrogenation products, the obtained alkyl alcohols with 7-11 carbon atoms, or their mixtures, can be used, as indicated above, to obtain the diester compounds of general formula (II) used according to the invention.

Dodecanol

The generally unbranched dodecanol can preferably be prepared by the Alfol® or Epal® method. These methods provide for the oxidation and hydrolysis of unbranched trialkylaluminum compounds, which are synthesized from triethylaluminum, stepwise through several ethylation reactions using Ziegler-Natta catalysts. From the resulting mixtures of mainly unbranched alkyl alcohols with different chain lengths, the desired n-dodecanol can be obtained after distillation removal of the C ₁₂ -alkyl alcohol fraction.

Alternatively, n-dodecanol can also be obtained by hydrogenation of natural fatty acid methyl esters, for example from coconut oil.

Branched isododecanol can be obtained by methods analogous to known methods of codimerization and / or oligomerization of olefins, for example, by the method described in WO 0063151, followed by hydroformylation and hydrogenation of mixtures of isoundecenes, for example, as described in DE-A 4339713. After distillation purification of the discharged hydrogenation products, the isododecanols obtained, or mixtures thereof, can be used as described above for the preparation of the compounds of general formulas (I) or (II) used according to the invention.

The use of molding materials

The molding composition according to the invention is preferably used for the production of molded articles, shaped parts and films. These include, in particular, housings for electrical appliances such as kitchen equipment and computers; tools; apparatus; pipelines; cables; hoses such as plastic hoses, water and irrigation hoses, industrial rubber hoses, or chemical hoses; sheath of wires; window profiles; profiles, plastic profiles, for example for belt conveyors; components for the automotive industry, such as body parts, engine dampers; tires; furniture such as chairs, tables or shelving; foam for upholstery and mattresses; tarpaulins, such as truck tarpaulins, tarpaulins or roofing materials; sealing gaskets; multilayer films, for example laminated glass films, in particular for automobile and window glass; self-adhesive films; duplicating films; tarpaulins; roofing materials; gramophone records; artificial leather; containers; adhesive films or coatings.

In addition, the molding composition according to the invention is also suitable for the production of molded articles and film materials in direct contact with people or food. These are mainly medical products, personal care products, packaging materials for foodstuffs, indoor products, toys and products for childcare, sports or leisure products, clothing or textile fibers, and so on.

Medical devices that can be made from the molding compound according to the invention include, for example, enteral and hemodialysis hoses, breathing hoses, infusion hoses, droppers, donor blood bags, catheters, tracheal tubes, disposable syringes, gloves or breathing masks.

Packaging materials for food products that can be made from the molding material according to the invention include, for example, films for keeping food fresh, hoses for foodstuffs, hoses for drinking water, containers for storing or freezing foodstuffs, cap seals, crown caps, crown caps or synthetic wine bottle caps.

Indoor products that can be made from the molding material according to the invention include, for example, floor coverings, which can consist of one or more layers, at least one of which is a foam layer, for example floor coverings, sports floors, so-called vinyl design tiles (LVT), imitation leather, wall cladding, foamed or non-foamed wallpaper in buildings, or cladding or protective coverings for consoles in vehicles.

Toys and products for the care of children that can be made from the molding material according to the invention include, for example, dolls, inflatable toys such as balls, toy figures, toy animals, anatomical models for training, plasticine, aids for swimming, baby carriage tents, changing mattresses, heating pads, baby rings or bottles.

Articles for sports or leisure activities that can be made from the molding compound according to the invention include, for example, gymnastic balls, exercise mats, cushions, massage balls and rollers, shoes, respectively shoe soles, balls, air mattresses or flasks.

Garments that can be made from the molding compound according to the invention include, for example, textiles (coated), in particular latex clothing, protective clothing or waterproof clothing, such as waterproof jackets or safety boots.

Application not for polyvinyl chloride

In addition, the present invention provides for the use of the plasticizing composition according to the invention as an auxiliary component and / or in an auxiliary component selected from the group consisting of calendering agents, rheological control agents, surfactants, for example, flow improvers, film-forming agents, antifoam agents, defoamers, wetting agents, coalescing agents and emulsifiers; lubricants such as lubricating oils, greases and plastic pastes; means for extinguishing chemical reactions; phlegmatizers; pharmaceutical products; plasticizers in adhesives or sealants; impact modifiers and thickeners.

Below the invention is described in more detail on examples of its implementation, with reference to the accompanying description drawing, without limiting the scope of the invention by these examples and this drawing.

FIG. 1 shows the compatibility of the plasticizer for soft PVC films containing 100 parts by weight. the plasticizing composition used according to the invention, and also, as a comparison, for soft PVC films containing only the commercially available plasticizer Hexamoll® DINCH® (DINCH) or Palamoll® 632 (632). Shown is weight loss (percentage) versus test duration (holding time in days).

Examples of

In the examples, the following starting materials are used:

Determination of molecular weight

The number average and weight average molecular weight is determined by gel permeation chromatography. Chromatography is performed on a GPC-System Infinity 1100 (Agilent Technologies) consisting of an Agilent 1200 pump, column warmer, columns and DRI detector. The eluent is tetrahydrofuran, which is passed at a rate of 1 ml / min through a combination of two thermostatic ° С PLgel Mixed-E columns (Agilent). Samples in the form of a solution in tetrahydrofuran with a concentration of 2 mg / ml are passed through a Macherey-Nagel PTFE-20/25 filter (porosity 0.2 μm) before injection. 100 μl of the indicated solution is injected. The measurement results are evaluated using a calibration curve previously obtained using polystyrene standard samples from Polymer Laboratories with a narrow molecular weight distribution (from 162 to 50400).

I) Preparation and testing of soft PVC films made using the plasticizing compositions according to the invention, as well as using commercially available plasticizers

Recipe

Used plasticizing compositions

I.a) Manufacture of soft PVC films

At room temperature, 150 g of PVC (suspension homopolymer, trade name Solvin® 271 SP), 150 g of plasticizing composition and 2 g of barium-zinc stabilizer (trade name Reagens® SLX / 781) are mixed with a hand mixer. The resulting mixture is plasticized on an oil-heated laboratory roller mixer (Collin automatic roller mixer, type 150, diameter 252 mm, width 450 mm), processing into a skin. The temperature of both rolls is respectively 180 ° C; the rotation speed of the front roll is 15 rpm, the rear roll is 12 rpm; rolling time is 5 minutes.

The thickness of the skin formed on the rolls is 0.53 mm. The cooled skin is subjected to subsequent pressing, carried out for 180 seconds on a press type "Laborplattenpresse 400 P" from Collin at a temperature of 190 ° C and a pressure of 150 bar, obtaining a soft PVC film with a thickness of 0.50 mm.

I.b) Testing the compatibility of plasticizers in soft PVC films

The purpose of the test

The test is intended to quantify the compatibility of plasticizers in soft PVC formulations. The test is performed at an elevated temperature (70 ° C) and a relative humidity of 100%. Weight loss is estimated depending on the exposure time.

Samples for testing

Samples (films) with dimensions 75 × 110 × 0.5 mm are used for testing. The films are perforated along the wide side, marked (with a soldering iron) and weighed.

Test apparatus

Drying cabinet from Heraeus (70 ° С), analytical balance, Testotherm device with sensors for measuring the temperature in the interior of the drying cabinet.

Test execution

Set the required temperature in the inner space of the drying cabinet (70 ° C). The finished weighed films are hung on a wire frame and placed in a glass tray filled with demineralized water, the level of which is about 5 cm. The edges of the films should not touch each other. The bottom edges of the films must not be in water. The glass bath is hermetically closed with a plastic wrap so that the water vapor formed later in the glass bath cannot escape. The water level in the glass bath must be monitored daily and if it drops, the lack of water can be compensated for.

Holding time

After 7, 14 and 28 days, respectively, two films are taken from the glass bath, which are conditioned in a suspended state in air for 1 hour. Then the surfaces of the films are cleaned with methanol. Over the next 16 hours, the free-hanging films are dried at 70 ° C. in a forced convection oven. After removing from the oven, the free-hanging films are conditioned for 1 hour and then weighed. The corresponding arithmetic mean of the weight loss of the films is recorded.

Test results

FIG. 1 shows the results of a compatibility test for PVC films made using the plasticizing compositions according to the invention (examples 1, 2 and 3), as well as using a purely polymeric, respectively purely monomeric plasticizer (comparative examples 1 and 2). Shown is dry weight loss [percentage] versus test duration (holding time) [in days].

As shown in FIG. 1 data, the pure polymer plasticizer Palamoll® 632 has a very low PVC compatibility. Weight loss when tested for compatibility after 28 days is about 27%. Adding only 20 wt.h. plasticizer Hexamoll® DINCH® with the same total content of plasticizers (100 parts by weight) leads to a significant reduction in the weight loss of the plasticizer (almost half), and, consequently, to a significant improvement in compatibility. Further increasing the amount of Hexamoll® DINCH® plasticizer added at the same total plasticizer content further reduces weight loss.

Claims (26)

1. Plasticizing composition for a thermoplastic polymer selected from polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyvinyl butyral (PVB), homopolymers and copolymers of vinyl acetate, homopolymers and copolymers of styrene, polyacrylates, thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU) and polysulfides, containing: a) one or more compounds of general formula (I):

wherein X in each case means an unbranched alkylene group having 2-5 carbon atoms, Y in each occurrence is a straight or branched alkylene group having 2-5 carbon atoms, a means an integer from 5 to 40, and R ^{1 are} both methyl, both are ethyl, both are n-propyl, both are isopropyl, both are n-butyl, both are isobutyl, or both are n-pentyl, moreover, the Y groups present in the compounds (I) may be the same or may differ from each other, and moreover, if the compounds (I) contain more than one X group, the latter may be the same or may differ from each other, and b) one or more compounds of general formula (II):

in which R ² and R ^{3 are} independently selected from branched and unbranched alkyl radicals with 8-11 carbon atoms, moreover, the content of the compound of general formula (I) in the plasticizing composition is from 50 to 90 wt% and the content of the compounds of general formula (II) in the plasticizing composition is from 10 to 50 wt%, based on the total amount of compounds (I) and ( II) in a plasticizing composition. 2. A plasticizing composition according to claim 1, wherein the weight average molecular weight of the compounds (I) is in the range from 500 to 15000 g / mol. 3. A plasticizing composition according to claim 1, wherein in the compound of general formula (I) not all groups Y are the same, and moreover, if several groups X are present in the compound of general formula (I), they are the same. 4. A plasticizing composition according to claim 1, wherein in the compounds of general formula (II) both R ² and R ^{3 are} 2-ethylhexyl, both are isononyl or both are 2-propylheptyl. 5. A plasticizing composition according to claim 1, wherein said plasticizing composition further comprises a plasticizer other than compounds (I) and (II), selected from alkyl alkyl esters of phthalic acid, trialkyl esters of trimellitic acid, alkyl esters of benzoic acid, esters of dibenzoic acid and glycols, esters of hydroxybenzoic acid, monoesters of saturated monocarboxylic acids, monoesters of hydroxymonocarboxylic acids, esters of unsaturated monocarboxylic acids, esters of saturated hydroxydicarboxylic acids, amides and esters of aromatic sulfonic acids, esters of alkyl sulfonic acids, esters of glycerolic acid, esters of dicarboxylic acid, esters from phosphates triesters of citric acid, alkylpyrrolidone derivatives, esters of 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid, esters of 2,5-tetrahydrofurandicarboxylic acid, epoxidized vegetable oils, epoxidized monoalkyl esters of fatty acids, dialkyl esters in 1,3-cyclohexane-dicarboxylic acid, dialkyl esters of 1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid, other than compounds (I), polyesters of aliphatic and / or aromatic polycarboxylic acids and at least dihydric alcohols. 6. Plasticizing composition according to one of claims. 1-5, and the mass ratio between the compounds of general formula (II) and compounds of general formula (I) is in the range from 1:10 to 1: 1. 7. Molding mass for the manufacture of molding products or films containing at least one thermoplastic polymer selected from polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyvinyl butyral (PVB), homopolymers and copolymers of vinyl acetate, homopolymers and copolymers of styrene, polyacrylates, thermoplastic polyurethanes and polysulfides, and a plasticizing composition, as defined in one of paragraphs. 1-6. 8. A molding composition according to claim 7, wherein the thermoplastic polymer is polyvinyl chloride (PVC). 9. The molding mass according to claim 8, wherein the content of the plasticizing composition in the molding mass is from 30 to 120 wt.h. per 100 wt.h. rubber. 10. The use of a plasticizing composition, as defined in one of the previous paragraphs. 1-6, as a plasticizer for thermoplastic polymers selected from polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyvinyl butyral (PVB), vinyl acetate homopolymers and copolymers, styrene homopolymers and copolymers, polyacrylates, thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU) and polysulfides. 11. The use of a molding compound, as defined in one of paragraphs. 7-9, for the production of molded products or films, for example, electrical housings, computer housings, tools, pipes, cables, hoses, wire sheaths, window profiles, plastic profiles, for example for conveyor belts, components for the automotive industry, tires, furniture , foam for upholstery and mattresses, tarpaulins, gaskets, multilayer films, self-adhesive films, duplicating films, tarpaulins, roofing materials, phonograph records, artificial leather, containers, adhesive films or coatings. 12. The use of a molding compound, as defined in one of paragraphs. 7-9, for the manufacture of molded products or films in direct contact with people or food. 13. Use as defined in clause 12, wherein the molded articles or films in direct contact with people or food are medical devices, personal care products, food packaging materials, indoor products, toys and care products. children, sports or leisure goods, clothing or fabric fibers.

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